Like most people, you probably dreamed of the day you'd get married. The dress, the flowers, the handsome groom, the beautiful bride. Somehow, you knew it would all come together to make an amazing and memorable day. Then reality smacks you in the face when you realize how much needs to be done and how little green you have to do everything. Well, put your worries aside. It's possible to have a great wedding without having to take out a loan. Here are a few tips to help you save a bundle on your special day.

Save On the Cake

Here are some creative ways to save on your wedding cake without sacrificing fun and good taste. [1] For the cake cutting ceremony, opt for a small posh cake. But wait, what about your guests? Well, you could:

Frosting is the best part of any cake right? Well, it is also one of the most expensive. Instead of fancy schmancy and costly fondant, get its less expensive cousin, buttercream. One thing though. If you choose an outdoor wedding, get the fancy schmancy stuff. Why? Buttercream will melt in the sun.

Save On the Flowers

If you're good with arrangements, why not buy one from a local florist and copy the arrangement? If you have a creative friend, ask him or her to do your arrangements on the cheap. Better yet, these arrangements could count as their wedding present to you. Add even more romance to the occasion with candles. Yes, pillar candles placed between small flower centerpieces will add volume to the arrangement and a bit of romance.

Although a lot of people get married on Saturdays, it isn't always the best course of action.[2] Why not? It's true that weekends are convenient for everyone, what with work schedules, school, social calendars, etc. But it's also the busiest time of the week for venues. That often means that prices inflate faster than a helium balloon at a county fair. Try booking your weekend wedding on a Friday or a Sunday. So how about a Sunday or Friday morning wedding instead?

Forget about tradition for a while. Whip out a pen and paper and jot down a list of places that have lots of space and will accommodate your guests. [3] How about a local bed and breakfast, or a public park for a wedding reception? The cheapest venue of all is right in your backyard. Or, you can opt for a small town wedding/reception because prices are usually cheaper in small towns compared to large cities. Other interesting venues include: aquariums, a zoo, galleries and historical sites.

Beat the crowd and consider an off-season wedding like November or January

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OK, so we've covered venue and the best time of day to hold the nuptials. Now, what about the season? We've already covered summer as the traditional wedding season, especially the months of May and June. But, booking a summer wedding can pose a real challenge. It's just like trying to get a decent price on a plane ticket around Thanksgiving and Christmas. The price will go up because demand is so high.

Save On the Dress

Want a new wedding dress at a huge discount? Check out a bridal sample sale. When a store has an abundance of merchandise they need to get rid of, they'll hold a sample sale. Search online for bridal sample sales in your town or city. [5] But before you go off to find that terrific deal, here are a few things to remember.

If you're shopping at a bridal store, be patient and wait until the final few hours of the sale

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Yes, you're shopping for a great deal, but don't get roped into thinking you've got to grab the first thing you can get your hands on. Why on earth would you do this? In addition to avoiding the rabid bridezilla crowd, you'll save up to an additional 20 percent on your great find.

Beware the "Buy now!" message. Instead, go for sales advertised as "blowout." In most cases, online sales tend to last anywhere between 24-48 hours. Check out these sites for some great deals: Ruelala.com, Ideeli.com, and Hautelook.com.

If you're really in a money crunch, why not buy a second-hand wedding dress

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Used wedding dresses can obviously save you a TON, and they can be just as beautiful and stylish as new wedding dresses. All you need is to do a little detective work to find the right one. First, investigate your local consignment shops. Goodwill and Salvation Army stores are also great treasure troves. When you find a potential keeper, make sure the measurements are spot on or at least big enough where you can have some alterations made. Don't forget the most famous online consignment shop, eBay. Buying a dress any from someone online can be very tricky. Usually, eBay Powersellers are the most reliable and trustworthy. Plus, eBay and PayPal team up to provide really strong buyer protection.

The same goes for the photographers. They'll usually charge by the hour, so you can try a few things to get a cheaper bill. You can ask for pictures of the ceremony and one hour of the reception. Or, you can ask for pictures of either the ceremony or the reception.

Here's a really cost effective alternative. Make your wedding pics a true group effort by giving each of your guests a chance to take pictures. Pass around a few disposable cameras during the reception, and give each guest a turn snapping those pics.